Alexander Hamilton and the Foundation of America’s Financial System

The National Constitution Center’s new exhibit,Alexander Hamilton and the Foundation of America’s Financial System, explores how Hamilton, America’s first treasury secretary, sought to establish a national system of banking, finance, taxation, coinage, and currency—a complete financial revolution.

America emerged victorious from the Revolutionary War in 1783 having won its independence. But by 1787, the country was essentially bankrupt, with no dedicated revenue sources, no credit, no effective securities market, no banking system, and no national currency.

The National Constitution Center’s new exhibit, Alexander Hamilton and the Foundation of America’s Financial System, explores how Hamilton, America’s first treasury secretary, dealt with these issues under the newly ratified Constitution. In order to place the nation on firm ground, he sought to establish a national system of banking, finance, taxation, coinage, and currency—a complete financial revolution.